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Navratri Kalash Sthapana Mantra is chanted by those people
who keep the Navratri pot as part of the nine day puja. The prayer given below
is in Hindi. The lamp lit during Kalashsthapana should use ghee as medium not oil. If you
are opting for a full prayer then you should perform the 16-step puja.
Kalash Sthapana Mantra

In Kalash Sthapana, a pot or kalash with an image of Goddess
Durga is installed in the house on the day. The pot or kalash is filled with
water and is covered with cow dung and seeds (like barely or wheat) are sown on
the dung. The pot is kept on a sand bed and seeds are sown on this too.
Special pujas are conducted on the pot and water is
sprinkled daily. The seeds sprout and reach about 3 or 5 five inches on the
tenth day. They are distributed as Prasad on the Vijayadashami day. RelatedHow
to do Kalash Sthapana?

The lighting of the lamp for Navratri Puja is known as Deepa Stamba Sthapana in some regions. The Navratri lights (diya) are lit for nine or seven or five or three days. The lamp should be lit using ghee and it should be continuously lit for 9 or 7 or 5 or 3 days. The number of wick used in lamp varies from region to region – but generally during auspicious occasions like Navratri puja people light 5 or 7 wicks in a traditional lamp. You can also light one or two wicks.

The lamp that is lit during Navratri should be adorned with flowers or garland.

It is believed that while prayers are offered before the lamp – 27 nakshatras or birth stars are invoked atop the lamp.

Only rule that should be carefully followed is that once the lamp is lit is should be continuously lit for 9, 7, 5 or 3 days. You should not stop after the first day and then start two days after.

MarubaiGavdeviTemple
located at Matunga in Mumbai is a 400-year-old shrine dedicated to Mother
Goddess Shakti. The goddess worshipped here is known as Goddess Marubai. She is
a combined manifestation of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Legend has it that the original murti of the Goddess
Worshipped in temple appeared under a neem tree during the 18th century. The
local villagers worshipped the deity and therefore the temple got the name
Marubai Gavdevi.
The local villagers who used to worship the deity believed
that she had the capacity to heal people. That's why she is called Marubai,
because she saves people from various illnesses. It is said that during
epidemics people drank the water used for abhishekam in the temple and used to
get cured.
Navratri is the most important festival observed in the
temple.
Daily morning routine includes Aarti and Abhisheks. Bhajans
are organized during the afternoon. Daily evening aarti also attracts thousands
of devotees.
Chandi Havan on …

There are some essential food items needed during Navratri
festival. These ingredients are used to prepare dishes mostly by people who opt
for partial fasting or only eat vegetarian food.
Kuttu ka Atta (buckwheat flour) – This is very much part of
nine days as most people only eat food prepared using Kuttu ka Atta.
Rock Salt – Rock salt is widely used during the nine days as
all other types of salt are prohibited.
Rice – A special rice known as ‘Vrat ka Chawal’ is used
widely in western and northern parts of India for cooking.
Sabudana or Sago – This is widely used during fasting. Vada,
Khichdi and Upma is prepared using Sabudana.
Khoya – Sweets are prepared using khoya. So large quantities
of khoya is used during the period.
Peanuts – It is widely used in dishes and on its own during
Navratri.
Mixtures, chips, farsan without salt is widely consumed
during the period.
Another type of atta or flour that is used during the period
is Singhare Ka Atta. Singhare is prepared from water …

Each year during Navratri, the MaduraiMeenakshiTemple in Tamil Nadu
displays nearly 800 kolu dolls. The thematic kolu display attracts thousands
devotees during the period. The display is on for 17 days. The Hindu reportsThe thematic ‘kolu’ which consists of over 800 dolls will be
kept in 17 bays put up with flex boards and wooden planks on one side of the
second corridor near the sanctum sanctorum of Goddess Meenakshi as has been
done for the last three years. The ‘vaahanams’ of the temple will also be kept
in nine separate bays.
The thematic ‘kolu’ will also have working replicas of the
Meenakshi temple and the festivals celebrated, on display. These include one
replica of the Teppam festival held at the Teppakulam, one of the various
‘vaahanams’ which include the ‘Rishaba vahanam’ and the ‘Garuda vahanam,’
circling the temple.
“Apart from this, we have made a replica of the sanctum
sanctorum of goddess Meenakshi which will have the golden chariot encircling
it. The famous legend o…

Navratri symbolically represents the victory of good over evil – Goddess Durga slaying Demon Mahishasura and Lord Rama killing Ravana. This same struggle is constantly taking place in human hearts and the nine-day Navratri Vrat gradually prepares a devotee to merge with the Brahman. Like Mahishasura, the human mind armed with ego, anger, greed, lust and envy negate the supreme force. The nine-day Navratri vrat slowly annihilates the Mahishasura in us and help us to realize us that we are part of Brahman – the supreme spirit present in all animate and inanimate.
The physical fight between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura has its ups and downs. Goddess Durga fought Mahishasura and his army for nine days and nine nights. Similarly, in the fight against evil tendencies like ego, anger, lust and other animal instincts make us weak and a person too faces and downs. The destructive aspect of Mother Goddess symbolically represents the fierce commitment to win over the evil tendencies. …

Wisdom is that, by which all troublesome activities melt
away.
He, who does not jump in the floods, need not be afraid of
being drowned. He, who observes rules of health, will remain healthy. Similarly
he, who on all occasions of activity and non-activity will not entertain the
sense of "I" (Ahankar), need have no fear in this world. Thus when
the sense of unity has dawned and when everybody else appears as part of self,
how can the feeling of fear arise?
When salt is put in the water, it becomes water. So with
unity, there remains no animosity.
The true mark, therefore, of purity of intelligence is, that
the mind is directed towards the true form (of Self) and the intelligence has
no other purpose except this.
Like the tree which gives the leaves, the
flowers, the shade, the fruits and the roots without distinction; give to the
needy with a cheerful heart. This is true charity.Dnyaneshwari

Tithi in Hindu Calendar on Wednesday, September 24, 2014
(Today) –Amavasya Tithi or the no moon
day in Hindu calendar and Panchang in all places. It is Amavasya Tithi or
the no moon day till 10:56 AM on
September 24. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Pratipada Tithi or the first
day during the waxing phase of moon. All time based on India Standard Time. Nakshatra – Uthiram or Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra
till 5:53 PM on September 24. Then onward it is Hasta or Atham or Hastam Nakshatram. Rashi or Moon Sign –
Kanya Rashi. Festivals, Vrat and Auspicious days – Mahalaya Shradh till 10:56 AM.
Amavasya. Kali Yuga Year – 5116
Vikram Samvant 2071 – Aswhin
Amavasya Tithi or no moon day in Ashwin month in North India - Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh,
Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir.
Jayanama Samvatsar/ Shalivahana Saka 1936 – Bhadrapad Amavasya Tithi or the no moon
day in Bhadrapad month in Karnataka, Andhra
…